My last day of walking this time around. I passed 3 “Route Barré” (road block) signs today, and many previously, and for the first time I recall, the road was actually blocked for walkers!
I started the day in La Napoule, and followed the Siagne river inland. A peaceful walk, past Cannes Old Golf Course where players are sailed over the river between holes – including their golf buggies.
After the river I walked inland towards the outskirts of Pegomas. I had passed a total of three Route Barré (Road Blocked) signs today. New buildings are popping up everywhere on the Côte d’Azur, also in places where in the past, it looked impossible to build. In all three cases I ignored the signs, and walked on. The two first times passing without any problems. But not the third. After walking 600m past the sign, I was met by a massive hole and an extensive construction site- I checked my maps and could see an alternative route passed the original sign. It turned out the road I wanted to follow was in a closed domain with a gate. Back again and I noticed that there was a sign with an alternative route for walkers – which I had missed, but now followed.
Back on track and following small paths, my GPS tracks evidently didn’t follow the official route and I was soon going down hill on a small and rocky path. I soon found out why this was no longer the official path. When I reached the bottom, the bridge across the river was falling apart and red and white tape stopping walkers from walking over it. I didn’t fancy going all the way back, so I climber down the river bank, crossed the smallish river and up the opposite bank.
I reached Mouans Sartoux, 45 minutes later than expected, due to the detour, and met my wife and friends, who would walk the last 15kms with me.
After a break with coffee and a cake, we set off up a fairly steep hill out of Mouans Sartoux, with great views over the village and towards Grasse. We crossed the Canal de Siagne and the path that follows it from north of Grasse, until it reaches the Siagne River which I had walked along earlier today. Mouans Sartoux is one of the richest communities on the coast, and we walked along a road with many massive entrances into very large grounds – some with helicopter pads!
We passed a second golf course, before heading into a forest and the fabulous small paths along the Bruguet and Brague rivers with the many cascades. A really beautiful walk.
The 3-4 kilometers into Roquefort-les-Pins were somewhat of an anti-climax after the walk along the river, walking uphill and through a forest, with little to see.
Another pleasant days walking, and nice walking with my wife and friends. As so often on this trip, a day with a pretty average part and a fabulous part.